Combined snow shovels and snow molds



July 3, 1956 R. H. WENDT 2,752,631

COMBINED SNOW SHOVEILS AND SNOW MOLDS Filed July 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hum 64 g INVENTOR.

July 3, 1956 R. H. WENDT COMBINED SNOW SHOVELS AND SNOW MOLDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1952 INVENTOR.

United States The present invention relates to combined snow shovels and snow molds, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved form of snow shovel which is also adapted to be employed as a toy for children, as a mold for making blocks of snow, and which may be used in building an igloo or a cylindrical snow hut.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved snow shovel which is of such light construction that it may be made in extra large sizes without undue weight, and which is nevertheless strong, durable, and adapted to be detached from its handle so that it may be carried in a car or other conveyance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved snow shovel, the handle of which is removable by merely using a blow on the handle by means of a hammer, and which may again be assembled by causing a blow upon the handle endof the handle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved snow shovel structure of the class described which has its handle firmly attached adapted to be the recipient of impact blows on either end for attaching and detaching the handle without damage to the handle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved snow shovel which may be employed as a mold for making partially cylindrical blocks of snow formed on a radius equivalent to the radius of a hut, in which the snow blocks are employed, so that the same snow shovel may be useful as a toy for children in forming snow blocks from the snow which is gathered during the shoveling of a sidewalk or the like.

Another object is the provision of a combined snow shovel and snow mold, the parts of which are capable of being taken apart easily and re-assembled, if necessary, for removing the mold from the block, and in which the mold is provided with an ejector by means of which the block may be forced out of the end of the mold.

Another object is the provision of such a combined snow shovel and mold which is also capable of forming partially spherical snow blocks adapted to be used in building a form of igloo.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved mold structure and snow shovel structure which is durable, light, capable of economical manufacture, and adapted to be used for a long period of time without repair or replacement of its parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a combined snow shovel and mold embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the shovel separate from the mold parts;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

'arent Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a partially cylindrical snow block, shown on a reduced scale, and made according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a modified form of combined shovel and mold for making partially spherical blocks;

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the cover removed; I

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a partially spherical block made according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of an igloo made out of the blocks of Fig. 8 by suitable adjustment of the size and angle of the ends of molded, so that they may diminish in size toward the top to be formed into a partial dome;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 10-10 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is a View in perspective of a partially cylindrical block made of snow with the present device, in which the block is indicated in its entirety by The block 10 has an inner cylindrical surface 11 formed on a suitable radius, corresponding to the diameter of a cylindrical but made out of the blocks on the inside.

The external cylindrical surface 12 is made on a correspondingly larger radius, which depends upon the thickparallel ends 13, ends 15, 16. Thus this block may be arranged to form a half cylinder in the form of a snow hut, with the sides 13, 14 extending upward and downward; and of course the blocks should be set up with broken joints.

Referring to Fig. 8, this is a view in perspective of a which is the radius of the igloo of Fig. 9 on the inside. The outer surface 19 is formed on a larger radius, comprising the radius of the igloo from the center to the outside.

The four edges 20, 21, 22, and 23 of the block may all extend in a radial direction toward the common center, but are plane surfaces located on great circles of the sphere of which the blocks 17 is a part.

The block of Fig. 5 is adapted to be made by means of the shovel and mold of Figs. 1, 2, and 4, while the block Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the shovel here is indi- The sharpened cutting edge 31 consists of a beveled steel or hardened aluminum strip of metal, having a sharp forward edge 32 formed by means of the bevel 33; and the reinforcing member 31 is riveted to the aluminum body 27 by a plurality of through rivets 34. Thus the light aluminum body is given a durable and relatively sharp scraping edge at its forward end for engagement with the sidewalk.

At its lateral edges the body 27 has the reinforcing members 28, 29, which are bent into partially circular form to correspond to the shape of the cylindrical body 27, to which they are attached by a plurality of rivets 35.

In order'to provide for the removable attachment of 3 the upper mold member 36 a special type of reinforcing member 28, 29 is preferably employed.

Referring to Fig. 10, this shows the shape of the channelled reinforcing members 23 and 29, each of which includes a curved attaching flange 37 engaging the bottom of the shovel body 27 and secured thereto by rivets iii The channel 29 also has an outwardly extending offset 38, which spaces the yoke 39 downward from the bottom 27 lsgllfliciently to receive the inwardly turned edge of the mo The yoke 39 carries an upwardly extending flange 46, which extends past the edge 41 of the shovel body 27 and is spaced sufficiently to receive the side of the mold 36. All of these parts are curved cylindrically with the shovel body 27 so that they form longitudinally extending channels on the edge of the shovel body, into which the mold parts may be slid from front to back to attach the mold to the shovel.

At the upper edge of the shovel body 27 it is provided with a fourth reinforcing member 34), which may take the form of an angle member 42, having its horizontal flange 43 riveted to the shovel body 27, and having its vertical flange 44 projecting upward to form an abutment for the rear end wall 45 of the mold 36.

All of the reinforcing members 23, 29, 3%, 31 overlap each other at the four corners of the body 27 and are riveted to each other as well as to the body 27 so that a relatively rectangular frame is provided, formed out of steel or hardened aluminum, which provides the supporting framework for the relatively light sheet metal shovel body 27, bearing the brunt of contact with the ground and snow and ice, and protecting the aluminum body against deformation.

In order to attach the handle to the body 27 it is provided with a substantially U shaped elongated channelled member 46 having a pair of attaching flanges 47, which are firmly riveted to the horizontal flange 43 of rear angle 42, and also riveted to the body 27.

The channeled member 46 has side flanges 48 and 49 which taper toward each other toward the lower end 50; and it has a yoke 51 which also tapers toward the end 50. Thus a tapered rectangular socket 52 is provided between the channeled member 46 and the shovel body 27, into which the tapered rectangular end 53 of the handle shaft 54 may be forced.

The taper of the tapered end 53 is relatively gradual so that the end of the handle shaft is wedged into the U shaped channel 46 and secured by friction by means of a tap on the handle end of the shaft. The tapered end 53 is preferably relatively long so that its smaller end 55 projects well beyond the end 50 of the channelled socket 52, leaving an end 55, which can be tapped with a hammer to remove the handle from the socket.

The handle shaft 54 is preferably made of a substantially rectangular strip of hard, durable lumber customarily used for snow shovels, substantially larger than the tapered end 53, so that the handle gets tight in the socket 52 and therefore can move no farther into the socket.

At its upper end the handle 25 is preferably provided with a reversed spade handle 56, which comprises the usual cylindrical wooden grip 57 secured by a through riveted rod 58 to the two metal side pieces 59 and 60. These metal side pieces curve upwardly from the attaching flanges 61, as well as curving inwardly.

The attaching flanges 61 are secured by a pair of rivets 62 in parallel position on the sides of the handle shaft 54, with the grip 57 projecting forwardly and upwardly from the extreme end 63 of the handle shaft. Thus the free end 63 of the shaft is available for a blow by means of a hammer or by stomping the handle on the ground or the sidewalk to secure its tapered. end 53 in the socket 52.

The end 63 may also be brought into engagement with the sidewalk to compact the snow in the mold, further to be described.

The shovel described and shown alone in Fig. 2 is of great utility and has a lower center of gravity and may be made in larger sizes than any of the shovels of the prior art without unduly burdening the user.

The body 27 is purposely made substantially square and wide in both dimensions so that the user can take as much snow as he pleases in a deep snow bank; but on the majority of occasions a shovel is used on relatively shallow depths of snow; and it is therefore advantageous to have a large, light, but reinforced shovel body that will substantially cover the full width of a three foot sidewalk or half the width of a wider sidewalk.

The shovel may be combined with a detachable mold member 36, which consists of a central partially cylindrical body 64, which is curved on the smaller radius, as shown in Fig. 4, but is concentric with the body 27. The body 64 is supported by a pair of parallel side flanges 65 and 66, all of these being preferably made of aluminum or other light metal; and the corners 67 between the sides 65 and 66 and the top 64 must follow a circular curvature to conform to the cylindrical shape, which can be done with a suitable die.

At their lower edges 68 each of the sides 65, 66 has a circular curvature and is provided with an inwardly turned cylindrical flange 69 (Fig. 10). This flange 69 slides in the complementary angular groove 70, which is provided at each edge of the shovel by the offset reinforcing channels 28 and 29. Thus the main part of the mold 36, including the sides, comprises a form of U shaped member, with its yoke inwardly concave and its sides parallel and its lower edges circular and angular, so that it is adapted to slide into the circular grooves 70 of the shovel.

The rear wall 45 may be downwardly bent and integral with the body 64-, but it is preferably provided with hinge formations 69 and with an elongated wire pintle 70, permitting the mold to be taken apart, if necessary, to remove the block.

The rear wall is arranged inside the vertical flange 44 of the angle 43 of the shovel, and may be provided with a centrally located circular aperture 71 for passing a wooden plunger loosely, which carries a rectangular wooden ejector 72. The plunger 71 carries a spring 73 compressed between the wall 45 and a knob 74 so that the ejector 72 is constantly withdrawn against the rear wall 45.

Thus a pressure on the knob 74 may be used to move the ejector 72 forward, following the curved walls 27 and 36, and driving the block out of the open end of the mold.

At its forward end the inner wall 64 is provided with hinge formations 75 joined to the hinge formations on the pivoted front wall 76 by means of a removable pintle of wire 77, having a finger loop 78 (Fig. l).

The front wall 76 preferably has riveted to it a form of drawer handle 79; and the body 64 preferably has an angular retaining spring 36 riveted to it for engaging and holding the handle 79 with the wall 76 in open position. Thus the front end of the mold may be maintained in open position; and the shovel and mold may be used after the manner of a shovel for gathering snow which runs over the forward edge 32 of the shovel into the mold.

As the snow piles up on the shovel, but does not fill the mold, the shovel and mold may be turned upright; and its handle end 63 may be bumped on the sidewalk to cause the snow to settle sharply into the mold and to compact it in the mold. Further shoveling is then indicated to fill up the front of the mold, with repeated bumping on the free end of the handle until the mold appears to be full, when the end wall 76 is pivoted around by means of the handle 79 to form a flat, radial end surface 75 on the block.

Then the end 76 is again opened and the ejector used to push the block out, with its end 15, which is adjacent the wall 76, resting on the ground.

If desired, wooden devices like the ejector 72 may be employed for compacting the snow in the mold during its filling; and if necessary, a sprinkling can with hot water may be kept at hand to sprinkle over the mold after it has been filled and just before the block is ejected, to prevent sticking of the block in the mold.

The question of sticking will depend upon the surrounding temperature and the condition of the snow; but by means of the heating of the mold before ejection and/or disassembly of the mold, the block can certainly be taken out.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, these show a modification in which the handle shaft 54 is provided with the ordinary may, nevertheless, be made strong enough to Withstand repeated bumping on the sidewalk when compacting the snow and when attaching the handle to the shovel.

In this case the handle is attached to the shovel body in the same manner; and the shovel body may be of similar construction, except as follows. The shovel body 82 is partially spherical in shape, being inwardly concave, to form the outer surface 23 of the block 17. Its sides 83, 84-, and 85 may comprise integral flanges overlapping and riveted together at the corners 86 and 87, leaving the front end open at 88.

As the body 82 is partially spherical, it must be provided with a plane front edge portion 89 along the curved line 90 for attachment of the knife edge 91. The sides 83, 84, 85 are plane, but extend radialy inward, conforming to the block of Fig. 8.

The top of the mold is closed by means of concave sheet metal cover 92, ing flanges 93 secured to the side walls 83 and 84 of screw bolts with thumb nuts 94.

The ejector 72 works on its plunger the same as described in Fig. 4, being loosely mounted in an aperture In this a spherically partially spherical, as to form an igloo. As

off their ends; but this may be done readily by forming as shown in Fig. 8, to start.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an im- Which may be made lighter and the snow shovels of the prior art and, because of its structure, involving a thin aluminum body and a strong reinforcing frame.

The present shovel has a detachable mold formation, which aids in gathering more snow upon the shovel if the user desires to do so in an ordinary shoveling operation; and the snow may be ejected from this box-like formation by pressing upon a plunger, which is automatically restored to its initial position.

There are occasions when the snow sticks to shovels; and the present structure permits it to be removed without occupying much space, and assembled without tools, whenever it is needed.

It can be assembled with its handle by merely placing the tapered end of the handle shaft in the socket and striking a blow on the free end of the handle, it into engagement with frozen when a snow shovel is used.

It may be detached from the handle by striking the end 55 of the handle shaft on a ledge, the inertia causing the shovel to move downward on the handle to release it.

While the present shovel is of general utility with or without its box formation, it has the additional advantage that it may be used for forming curved snow blocks, making it available as a toy for children, as Well as a useful article to be taken apart and carried in an automobile, where a snow shovel should always be available in the wintertime.

scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A snow shovel comprising a curved, partially cylindrical body of sheet aluminum, said body having along to said aluminum body for supporting the body, closing the frame and maintaining the shape of said body, said rear frame mem her having a forwardly tapered steel socket member secured to its lower side for receiving and securing by pressure and friction, a tapered handle shank.

2. A snow shovel of said side frame members to form a rigid rectangular frame, said frame overlapping and being secured to said aluminum body for supporting the body, closing the frame and maintaining the shape of said body, said rear portion below the socket, which when subject to impact will move the handle backward far enough to free it in the socket.

3. A snow shovel comprising a curved, partially cylindrical body of sheet aluminum, said body having along aluminum body for supporting the body, closing the frame and maintaining the shape of said body, said rear frame member having a forwardly tapered steel side for receiving and securing by pressure and friction, a tapered handle shank, and an elongated rectangular wooden handle having its lower end tapered to a relatively small, rectangular pointed end adapted to pass through the socket to a point of rigid securement and long enough in its taper to provide a free portion below the socket, which when subject to impact will move the handle backward far enough to free it in the socket, the said handle being provided on its handle end with a pair of lateral metal handle frame members secured to the opposite sides of said handle, and having their ends joined by a grip having a through metal member to form a spade grip which is located inwardly of the end of the handle shank, leaving the end free to be hammered on a solid member when securing the handle shank to the snow shovel back.

4. A snow shovel comprising a curved, partially cylindrical body of sheet aluminum, said body having along its front edge a beveled steel sidewalk engaging memher, a pair of lateral steel side frame members having the same curvature as said body and having their forward ends secured to said beveled steel member, and a rear steel frame member having its ends secured to the ends of said side frame members to form a rigid rectangular frame, said frame overlapping and being secured to said aluminum body for supporting the body, closing the frame and maintaining the shape of said body, said rear frame member having a forwardly tapered steel socket member secured to its lower side for receiving and securing by pressure and friction, a tapered handle shank, and a curved housing member formed of sheet metal provided with a partially cylindrical body and two depending parallel side flanges, each of which is provided with a curved edge which is complementary to the bottom of said aluminum body and slidably engaged against said aluminum body.

5. A snow shovel comprising a curved, partially cylindrical body of sheet aluminum, said body having along its front edge a beveled steel sidewalk engaging member, a pair of lateral steel side frame members having the same curvature as said body and having their forward ends secured to said beveled steel member, and a rear steel frame member having its ends secured to the ends of said side frame members to form a rigid rectangular frame, said frame overlapping and being secured to said aluminum body for supporting the body, closing the frame and maintaining the shape of said body, said rear frame member having a forwardly tapered steel socket member secured to its lower side for receiving and securing by pressure and friction, a tapered handle shank, and a curved housing member formed of sheet metal provided with a partially cylindrical body and two depending parallel side flanges, each of which is provided with a curved edge which is complementary to the bottom of said aluminumv body and slidably engaged against said aluminum body, the side frame members of said aluminum body being of curved angle shape having an inwardly offset attaching flange secured to said aluminum body and forming an angular groove adapted to receive, confine, and secure the angular edges of said side walls.

6. A snow shovel comprising a sidewalk width body of partially cylindrical sheet aluminum of rectangular form, said body being provided along its front edge with a beveled sidewalk engaging member secured to the body and provided on its lateral and rear edges with steel reinforcing members secured to said sidewalk engaging member and to each other at the corners of said body, the said reinforcing members extending along the lateral edges, being curved on the same radius as said body, and the said rear reinforcing member comprising a steel angle provided with means for detachably securing a wooden handle comprising a substantially U-shaped, elongated, rnctal stirrup having attaching flanges riveted to said angle member.

7. A snow shovel comprising a sidewalk width body of partially cylindrical sheet aluminum of rectangular form, said body being provided along its front edge with a beveled sidewalk engaging member secured to the body and provided on its lateral and rear edges with steel reinforcing members secured to said sidewalk engaging member and to each other at the corners of said body, the said reinforcing members extending along the lateral edges, being curved on the same radius as said body, and the said rear reinforcing member comprising a steel angle provided with means for detachably securing a wooden handle comprising a substantially U-shaped, elongated, metal stirrup having attaching flanges riveted to said angle member, and a wooden handle member of complementary shape to said stirrup, having a tapered end adapted to be driven into tight frictional engagement in said stirrup.

8. A snow shovel comprising a sidewalk width body of partially cylindrical sheet aluminum of rectangular form, said body being provided along its front edge with a beveled sidewalk engaging member secured to the body and provided on its lateral and rear edges with steel reinforcing members secured to said sidewalk engaging member and to each other at the corners of said body, the said reinforcing members extending along the lateral edges, being curved on the same radius as said body, and the said rear reinforcing member comprising a steel angle provided with means for detachably securing a wooden handle comprising a substantially U-shaped, elongated, metal stirrup having attaching "flanges riveted to said angle member, and a wooden handle member of complementary shape to said stirrup, having a tapered end adapted to be driven into tight frictional engagement in said stirrup, said handle member having its tapered portion elongated suificiently to project downwardly past the stirrup member such a distance that the tapered end may be driven out of the stirrup by impact.

9. A snow shovel comprising a rectangular body of sheet aluminum bent to substantially cylindrical form and reinforced about its four edges by reinforcing members secured thereto, and a handle detachably secured to said shovel body comprising a substantially rectangular wooden shaft, said wooden shaft being gradually tapered at its lower end, said body being provided with a tapered complementary socket member of sheet metal secured thereto for receiving the tapered end of said handle shaft.

10. A snow shovel comprising a rectangular body of sheet aluminum bent to substantially cylindrical form and reinforced about its four edges by reinforcing members secured thereto, and a handle detachably secured to said shovel body comprising a substantially rectangular wooden shaft, said wooden, shaft being gradually tapered at its lower end, said body being provided with a tapered complementary socket member of sheet metal secured thereto for receiving the tapered end of said handle shaft, the said tapered end being tapered to a size smaller than the smallest end of said socket and projecting downwardly beyond said socket member to be loosened from the socket member by impact on the tapered end.

11. A snow shovel comprising a rectangular body of sheet aluminum bent to substantially cylindrical form and reinforced about its four edges by reinforcing members secured thereto, and a handle detachably secured to said shovel body comprising a substantially rectangular wooden shaft, said wooden shaft being gradually tapered at its lower end, said body being provided with a tapered complementary socket member of sheet metal secured thereto for receiving the tapered end of said handle shaft, the said tapered end being tapered to a size smaller than the smallest end of said socket and projecting downwardly beyond said socket member to be loosened from the socket member by impact on the tapered end, and a handle fitting at the outer end of said handle shaft comprising a pair of metal members having attaching flanges secured to said shaft and extending outwardly, backwardly and upwardly away from said handle shaft and joined by a finger grip member above said shaft, leaving the end of said shaft free for impact in attaching the handle to said socket member.

12. A combined mold for snow blocks and a snow shovel comprising a shovel body provided with a rearwardly extending shovel handle, said body being formed on each of its sides with longitudinally extending guides for receiving an angle flange and confining it against the edge of said body, and a box-like receptacle having substantially the same size as said body and provided with four side walls, the two lateral side walls being provided with angular flanges slidably received in said guides for attaching said box to said body.

13. A combined mold for snow blocks and a snow shovel comprising a shovel body provided with a rearwardly extending shovel handle, said body being formed on each of its sides with longitudinally extending guides for receiving an angle flange and confining it against the edge of said body, and a box-like receptacle having substantially the same attaching said box to said body, the front wall of said box being pivotally mounted on said box to be opened for using the shovel to till the box.

14. A combined mold for snow blocks and a snow shovel comprising a shovel body 10 substantially the same size as said body and provided with four side walls, the two lateral side walls being provided with angular flanges slidably received in said guides for attaching said box to said body, the front wall of said box being pivotally mounted on said box to be opened for References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,079 Berney Apr. 12, 1881 461,623 SchOch Oct. 20, 1891 507,826 Miller Oct. 31, 1893 899,644 Wininger Sept. 29, 1908 1,069,511 Zeman Aug. 5, 1913 1,176,112 Volkstadt Mar. 21, 1916 1,232,361 Mills July 3, 1917 1,367,032 Ferdon Feb. 1, 1921 1,517,341 Bulger Dec. 2, 1924 1,803,717 Lysne May 5, 1931 1,899,662 Bergmann Feb. 28, 1933 1,907,287 Crook May 2, 1933 2,121,200 Jonsson June 21, 1938 2,598,952 Weingart June 3, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 180,904 Switzerland Jan. 23, 1935 

